They surrounded me right after the breakup.

10:00 AM.

Shen Qingning's car turned into the underground parking garage and parked in a spot close to the elevator.

The engine was turned off, but I didn't get out of the car.

She looked at herself in the mirror on the sun visor.

She wore a long, hazy blue dress, her hair cascading over her shoulders, and sparkling diamond earrings.

"Are we going or not?" Xia Yutong asked from the passenger seat.

"What's the rush?"

"Didn't you say you wanted to come early?"

Shen Qingning didn't reply, closed the mirror, and took a deep breath.

"Yutong, what do you think of my outfit today?"

Xia Yutong glanced at her: "What can't you, a big star like Shen, wear? Stop asking, let's go."

Shen Qingning pushed open the car door, her high heels clicking on the concrete floor of the underground parking garage.

The two walked towards the elevator. Xia Yutong was wearing black wide-leg pants and a white shirt, carrying a briefcase. She said she was passing by the hotel's business center to handle some documents.

Shen Qingning didn't believe it, but she didn't expose it.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a hand reached in from the outside.

"Wait a moment!"

Liu Meng squeezed in, panting, her hair a little disheveled, and her forehead covered in sweat.

She had carefully styled herself in a navy blue cheongsam and pearl hair clips, but all her efforts were wasted now.

"Why didn't you two wait for me?" Liu Meng patted her chest to catch her breath.

"You didn't say you were coming," Xia Yutong said.

"Can I not come?"

"You two, one is an ex-girlfriend, and the other... never mind, I won't say anymore. There are a lot of media at the Xiao family's event today. If I hadn't come to keep an eye on things, who knows what might have happened."

Liu Meng looked at the two of them from left to right and sighed.

"It's settled then, no one is allowed to cause trouble today."

"I didn't mean to cause trouble," Shen Qingning said.

"I don't believe you for a second," Liu Meng blurted out.

The elevator reached the top floor, and as soon as the doors opened, a cacophony of noise rushed in.

The banquet hall was very large, and the crystal chandelier was dazzling.

Many guests arrived, chatting in small groups while holding champagne.

The waitresses, dressed in custom-made cheongsams, moved through the crowd with smiles so perfect they looked like they'd been copied and pasted.

Liu Meng looked around but didn't see Lin Yaoyao or Qiu Siyao.

She breathed a sigh of relief, but then felt something was off; they should have arrived earlier.

"Sit here," Shen Qingning said, pointing to the right side of the third row.

The three sat down, with Liu Meng in the middle, Shen Qingning on her left, and Xia Yutong on her right.

The location is great; you can see the stage and the entrance clearly.

At 10:40, Jiang Han appeared at the entrance of the hall.

Gray suit, white shirt, black tie.

Shen Qingning had never seen that outfit before, but she thought it must have been chosen by Lin Yaoyao or Qiu Siyao.

Xiao Xiao kept her eyes fixed on the door and ran over to greet them immediately.

She was wearing high heels that she rarely wore, and she swayed so much that she almost lost her balance before Jiang Han reached out and supported her arm.

Shen Qingning watched as Xiao Xiao took Jiang Han's arm, looked up at him and spoke, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with a smile.

"Qingning," Liu Meng called to her from the side.

Your hands are shaking.

Shen Qingning's hand holding the water glass was indeed trembling slightly. She put the glass down and hid her hand under the table.

"It's nothing, just low blood sugar."

Side hall.

Xiao Xiao took Jiang Han's arm and walked in, her steps light and quick.

Xiao Yuanshan sat in the main seat, wearing a gray Zhongshan suit, and twirled a string of Buddhist prayer beads in his hand.

He was in his early sixties, with gray hair, but he was full of energy. His eyes had the composure of someone who had seen it all, and he exuded an air of authority without being angry.

There was no one else in the room. Xiao's relatives were all in the banquet hall greeting guests, while Xiao Yuanshan sat alone in the side hall drinking tea.

"Dad, this is Jianghan."

Xiao Xiao released Jiang Han's arm, her tone tinged with a hint of smugness.

Xiao Yuanshan raised his eyelids to observe Jiang Han, but didn't rush to speak.

"sit."

Jiang Han sat down on the sofa next to him, unhurried and without the tension of being scrutinized by an elder.

"Hello, Uncle Xiao."

"Hmm." Xiao Yuanshan twirled his prayer beads and suddenly sighed.

"Mr. Jiang, my girl... is being too reckless."

Xiao Yuanshan pointed at Xiao Xiao, his tone filled with helplessness.

"Look at you, you're opening for business, why invite your own boss to sing? It'll make you a laughingstock!"

"Dad!" Xiao Xiao stamped her foot. "President Jiang is doing me a favor by coming!"

"Giving you face?" Xiao Yuanshan glared at her. "How much face do you have? A dignified chairman like him, coming here to perform for you?"

Xiao Xiao pouted, unable to speak.

Xiao Yuanshan turned back to look at Jiang Han, his expression becoming serious.

"Mr. Jiang, Xiao Xiao has been spoiled by her mother since she was a child, and I also bear some responsibility. I always thought that it was okay to pamper a girl. As a result, she has become so spoiled that she doesn't know how to be prudent in her actions."

"What happened today was her fault for being inconsiderate! If you feel it's inappropriate, the program can be canceled, and I'll have someone arrange something else."

Xiao Xiao lowered her head, staring nervously at Jiang Han, her fingers twisting the hem of her skirt.

"No need to cancel," Jiang Han said. "I agreed, so I'll sing."

Xiao Yuanshan paused for a moment, then smiled and shook his head.

"You young man... alright, since you don't mind, then sing!"

"But let me make this clear: if this girl makes any more unreasonable requests in the future, just refuse them. Don't give me any face."

"Xiao Xiao is doing well..." Jiang Han said.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao smiled.

Xiao Yuanshan stood up and patted Jiang Han on the shoulder.

"Let's go, the opening ceremony is about to begin."

Inside the banquet hall, the lights were still on, and most of the guests had arrived. Some exchanged pleasantries, while others took photos.

Xiao Yuanshan walked in front, Xiao Xiao followed beside him, and Jiang Han walked behind.

As he passed the first row, Xiao Yuanshan stopped.

"You can sit here." He pointed to the middle left seat in the first row, right next to his own seat.

Shen Qingning watched Jiang Han's back from several rows of people.

The gray suit had a very straight shoulder line, and he sat very upright.

She stared at it for a long time, lost in thought.

Xia Yutong wasn't much better off; her gaze remained fixed on Jiang Han, never wavering.

As the only one of the three who was sober, Liu Meng could only shake her head and sigh when she saw her two best friends acting like lovesick girls.

What a sin!

On the side of the stage, Xiao Xiao stood behind the curtain, clutching her cue cards.

The cue cards listed today's schedule: opening remarks, guest speeches, ribbon-cutting, and some insignificant performance expressions...

And the grand finale: a duet of "Little Love Song" with Jiang Han.

She silently repeated the lyrics in her mind, making sure she knew every single line by heart.

Forgetting lines during halftime or going off-beat are absolutely unacceptable mistakes!

Xiao Xiao patted her chest lightly and took deep breaths to calm her nerves; her fingers, gripping the card, turned slightly white.

11 o'clock exactly.

The lights went out, and a spotlight shone on the center of the stage.

The host, dressed in a suit and tie, walked onto the stage with a bright smile.

"Distinguished guests, friends, welcome to the opening ceremony of Xiao's Hotel!"

Applause erupted.

Jiang Han leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers casually on his knees.

He casually turned his head, and his gaze happened to meet that of the three women behind him.

Damn it! Why are you all staring at me instead of looking at the stage?